"Imperfect people Serving a Perfect God"
Dateline: Phillips West
In 1997 I was in the employ of a company that became employee owned in the blink of an eye. I vividly remember the stockholder meetings at which we would talk of early retirement and freedom from worry over finances. These were not just pipe dreams as we saw presentations from investment bankers and upper management time and time again. Although we saw setbacks and blame was dispersed on everything from 9/11/01 to the real estate bubble, the company survived and is still in full operation today.
In 2002, I began to attend meeting hosted by the churches and pastors. I saw a common theme that was much different from the business world. People at church meeting lamented about money... a lot. "We are only in April and already behind $50,000." "Our building project costs too much." "This donation will be ending in three years" etc. etc. etc. My response to these meeting was to begin college and prepare for a career in the "management of the church." Little did I know God would call me to pastor and show me that HE manages the church.
The sad part today is that if you attend a prayer meeting, church business meeting, or any "bureaucracy" of the church meeting you will likely hear the same complaints about money. You will witness people trying to manage God's work. You will hear doom and gloom instead of blessed assurance. Do we expect anyone to believe our message of eternal hope when we are a people who worry about tomorrow?
I swear if people spent 1/2 the hours they are using to develop fund raising schemes and instead got out and shared the Good News with the lost, we would see a revival beyond the proportions of any in history. If people's minds were occupied by Christ and not the church budget, imagine what HE could do through them. Brothers and sisters what is the treasure of thine heart?
Like I said, despite various setbacks, the company I left still survives today. Here's the deal- despite anything we do Christ's church will survive. Not only will it survive, it will thrive. HE does not want us to think in "survival mode." Survival mode is disrespectful and inadequate for the King of Kings. HE beat death itself. It is time to set our minds to "thrival" mode. Thrival mode does not take place at a desk, it takes place on the streets. Thrival mode is extroverted. Thirval mode is a not Church-centric plan, it is a Christ-only plan. It is not about our survival, it is about a revival of lost souls.
This is the day the Lord has made. This day, like His plan for the church, is perfect. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
